Disney picks AKB48 for soundtrack to video game inspired CG movie

Disney's upcoming CG animated Wreck-It Ralph is the story of an arcade game villain who is inspired to turn over a new leaf after meeting a cute girl character named Vanellope von Schweetz in cart racing game Sugar Rush.

A new Japanese trailer offers an interesting take on the scenario. For the its March, 2013 Japanese release, the movie itself being redubbed Sugar Rush, while Ralph's moe buddy gets prominently feature in the preview.

versus the American version

Meanwhile, everyone, regardless of territory, is going to be treated to an AKB48 theme to the fictional Sugar Rush game.

From Walt Disney Records' announcement

Japan’s pop phenomenon AKB48 accompanies Ralph to the land of sweets with the aptly named theme song “Sugar Rush.” “We’ve always thought of Sugar Rush—with its nod to anime—as a game that may have originated in Japan,” said Spencer. “So we went to Japan and got the hottest J-pop group to perform the song that really sets the tone for this ’90s-era cart-racing game: young and hip.”

The North American release, with John C. Reilly as Ralph and Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz, is set to be released on November 2nd.

------Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.